“We remove Gunite pools, liner pools and above-ground pools. We also haul away spas and Jacuzzis,” said Herb Tebo, owner of Tebo & Sons, a pool removal company which works throughout the state. “When we haul away a pool, if there are other items that people no longer want, such as pool furniture, we take that as well. If the homeowner doesn's want a fence anymore, we will remove that.”

How do you remove a pool?

Noting that Gunite pools are formed with metal reinforcement rods, sprayed with concrete and finished with plaster, Tebo said he jackhammers the concrete to break it up. Depending on a town's regulations and the homeowner's wishes, the concrete might be used to fill the hole or hauled away.

“We then bring in clean fill for the hole and compact that with a Bobcat. In some cases we put in a lawn. We bring the ground back to as close to the natural grade as possible. In most cases, the yard looks a lot bigger,” Tebo said, noting that he is also a landscaper and can restore the yard after the pool is removed.

It takes about a week to remove a Gunite pool.

For an in-ground liner pool, the plastic liner and metal frame are removed. Concrete decking is broken up and either hauled away or used to fill the hole before clean fill is added.

Above-ground pools are disassembled and taken away.

When is the best time for pool removal?

“We can do the work any time,” Tebo said.

“I don's like to destroy the yard any more than I have to. If the ground is very muddy and wet, it may be better to do a pool removal in the winter when the ground is frozen so there is less damage. Of course, sometimes in the winter I have to cut ice out of the pool. So it just depends on a homeowner's needs.”

Are permits required?

“In some towns you don's need a permit, some you do. We call the building inspector to find out if we need a permit for a job.”

“Every town has different requirements for removing a Gunite pool. Some require that you take it all out. In some towns you can break the pool up into chunks of approximately six inches, take out all the metal and bury the concrete. Some homeowners choose not to leave the concrete in the backyard.”

How long have you been doing this?

“Approximately 25 or 30 years,” Tebo said. “I was putting pools in, but you can's do that when the weather is bad. So I started taking out pools. I still build waterfalls around swimming pools for a couple of pool installation companies.”

“I'se seen a lot of pools that have been in the ground 25 or 30 years that are in good shape.? They last longer than most cars.? But sometimes people take a pool out to make it easier to sell the house.”